Lawyer: 'Housewives' star targeted due to fame

Teresa Giudice, Giuseppe "Joe" Giudice

Giuseppe "Joe" Giudice, 43, left, and his wife, Teresa Giudice, 41, of Montville Township, N.J., walk out of Martin Luther King, Jr. Courthouse after a court appearance, Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in Newark, N.J. The two stars of the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" were indicted Monday on federal fraud charges, accused of exaggerating their income while applying for loans before their TV show debuted in 2009, then hiding their improving fortunes in a bankruptcy filing after their first season aired. They are charged in a 39-count indictment with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

AP

KATIE ZEZIMA,Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 1:52 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 1:52 p.m.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — An attorney for "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice (JOO'-dice) says he believes the federal government is prosecuting her because she's a celebrity.

Teresa and her husband, Giuseppe "Joe" Giudice, who also appears on the TV show, were indicted Monday on charges of bank and bankruptcy fraud. He is also charged with failing to file tax returns for five years.

On Tuesday, a magistrate in Newark set their bond at $500,000 each. They were also required to surrender their passports, and their travel was restricted to New Jersey and New York.

Their attorneys say both will plead not guilty.

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